Shielding Your Business: Exploring Best Practices for Managing Global Supply Chain Challenges and Sanctions

Laura Siegel Rabinowitz counsels domestic and multinational businesses on complex supply chain issues and other complicated challenges associated with trade, advising on mitigation of duty exposure and compliance. Laura has deep experience handling international trade projects for multinational importers, exporters, manufacturers, retailers, customs brokers, and freight forwarders in industries such as renewable energy, steel, apparel, consumer products and industrial equipment among others.

Laura advises on supply chain strategies including the enforcement of forced-labor and the mitigation of tariffs on Chinese-made products, steel and aluminum. She helps clients navigate the maze of regulations, customs, and other government agency scrutiny, as well as the broad array of commercial and enforcement laws and policies administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including trade compliance and audit programs, and duty savings initiatives such as free trade agreements and the use of “first sale.” Laura’s practice also includes advising on the enforcement of antidumping and countervailing duties.

Laura’s depth of knowledge regarding global customs law extends to audits, marking, penalty defense, valuation, tariff classification, entry procedures, and antiterrorism initiatives. She advises on other import requirements administered by federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Environmental Protection Agency, and requirements involving the health and safety of imported goods.

Prior to entering private practice, Laura served as an attorney with U.S. Customs’ Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, representing Customs in litigation in the Court of International Trade.

Irene Chiu is the Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at MicroPort Orthopedics Inc., with an exceptional track record in the legal field spanning over 20 years. She joined MicroPort in September 2021 and is responsible for all legal and compliance matters globally.

Prior to joining MicroPort, Ms. Chiu held multiple executive level positions, including Vice President & General Counsel at GCA Therapeutics Ltd., a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company, Managing Director, General Counsel at NAL Pharmaceuticals Ltd., an international drug development company, and Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel at Systagenix Wound Management (later as part of Acelity), a global advanced wound care company.

Previously, she was an experienced international corporate attorney (with finance and accounting background) in private practice with international law firms Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP and Hodgson Russ LLP. Ms. Chiu is a licensed attorney in the US and a qualified solicitor in the UK.

She holds a Juris Doctor degree (with Honors) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude) from State University of New York at Buffalo, a Certificate in Financial Management from Cornell University and a Certificate of Healthcare Compliance from Seton Hall Law School. Ms. Chiu is also fluent in Chinese and possess knowledge of Japanese.

Andrew Warner is the General Counsel at Ferrero USA, Inc. in charge of their Industrial & Supply Chain sector. He received his JD from the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law.